6. Stress

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Whether it’s a looming deadline, a blind date or having to tell your wife that you spent the vacation fund on a big-screen TV, stress and anxiety are sleep killers. The inability to prevent our minds from racing at night is a common symptom of stress-induced sleep disturbance. With bedtime typically being the only time for peaceful reflection, it’s quite common to relive all the stressful events that occurred throughout the day. But stress-induced sleep disturbance isn’t just a mental thing; stress induces physical changes, such as the release of the hormone cortisol — another factor intimately related to sleep. If you’re having trouble with stress and sleep, the best solution is to address the stress itself, rather than look for quick fixes. Make sure you wind down hours before bedtime, whether through mediation, a good book or mutual massage — anything to keep your mind at ease — and be sure to make these healthy habits routine.